Old man learns new trick

[65-2x2]

I have been retired for nearly ten years now. Two years ago my wife and daughter conspired to get me off the computer and doing something with my hands, so they bought me a leather starter kit. I am an old-fashioned steel gun and leather holster kind of guy, but I had never had a desire to work with leather, but kit in hand, leather on the table I started to play with it. (The leather, not "it.") I am hard-headed so the only instruction that I got was learning how to saddle stich with a Handi-stitcher; five minutes on the internet. Low and behold, I found that I really liked it and have been learning ever since. I probably do everything upside down and backwards. I will not live long enough to master the art, but perhaps I will live long enough to make an honorable place to hold a handgun. I make my own patterns, but I am not above trying to clone other's work. (There are only so many ways to wrap a gun in leather) I don't make them to sell, so I only have to satisfy myself.

Since I can not judge my own work I would really appreciate some honest assessments of the results of my new hobbie. I am tough, I know I am a novice.

 

[old bear]

Nice job,, keep up the good work..

 

[lihpster]

I'd strap them on. Nice work.

 

[JFthunder]

Look good to me. And I see where you looked to history for inspiration on a few . Nice work.

 

[crows]

Yep, looks very good.

 

[sophie]

I would be proud to use any of that gun leather that you have shown. Those look real good to me.
Bravo, and keep on stitching.

 

[Bruceboy]

I have been retired for nearly ten years now. Two years ago my wife and daughter conspired to get me off the computer and doing something with my hands, so they bought me a leather starter kit. I am an old-fashioned steel gun and leather holster kind of guy, but I had never had a desire to work with leather, but kit in hand, leather on the table I started to play with it. (The leather, not "it.") I am hard-headed so the only instruction that I got was learning how to saddle stich with a Handi-stitcher; five minutes on the internet. Low and behold, I found that I really liked it and have been learning ever since. I probably do everything upside down and backwards. I will not live long enough to master the art, but perhaps I will live long enough to make an honorable place to hold a handgun. I make my own patterns, but I am not above trying to clone other's work. (There are only so many ways to wrap a gun in leather) I don't make them to sell, so I only have to satisfy myself.

Since I can not judge my own work I would really appreciate some honest assessments of the results of my new hobbie. I am tough, I know I am a novice.

Great work and hardly the work of a novice.

Well done,

Al

 

[smitty_bs]

They all look great. And I would definitely wear that black one with the revolver strapped in.

 

[kev74]

Very nice!

 

[Martyk]

I think you're on the right track. I would pay for leather such as your creations. Keep at it!

 

[65-2x2]

Thank all of you for the kind comments.

Look good to me. And I see where you looked to history for inspiration on a few . Nice work.

Thank you. That flap holster is probably the one that you are speaking of. I wanted a holster for a new (to me) HSc and was stunned by the price of the originals. Someone on eBay showed some good pics, and I cloned it from that. (yes, I am shameless) That was a challenge, but once I figured it out, I have made a pile of them for different pieces. That old European style holster is just handy. My last one was for a full-sized 1911.

 

[turnerriver]

Your .45 auto holster is very similar to the Berns-Martin Raider or Ranger holster. Impressive work, thanks for posting.

 

[Shibadog]

Look good to me. Only thing I’d change is the strap on the revolvers, I like mine to secure the hammer, but that’s me

 

[GypsmJim]

Eons ago I bought a leather kit to make a wallet from Tandy Leather. That got me started. I decided I wanted to make a holster and a rifle case, but the kits and Tandy leather pieces were tool expensive.

I was in a shoemaker shop to have a shoe repaired and I saw a ton of pieces of leather, so I asked the guy if he would sell me some. I ended up coming home with a quarter hide at a really cheap price.

At the time I needed a holster to carry a scoped revolver for hunting. I bought a few yards of vinyl at JoAnn's and used it to make a mock holster, put together with staples. When assured it would work I used it as a pattern.

My Dad was a "Sail Maker" and Gunner's Mate in WWII, and he used to make all our boat covers after the war, so I had all the necessary tools.

Good news, bad news. I made a lot of leather gun accoutrements, but then the shoemaker died and the new owner would not sell raw leather any more.

To the OP - you did an excellent job.

 

[Skyhunter]

I'd say for a "novice" you're doing pretty darn well!
I'd put any of them to work.
Keep practicing - you're doing good work!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[bamabiker]

Good job, keep it up. You'll get even better.
Lots of good videos on Youtube.

 

[MG34/bar]

All look very serviceable. You also solve the problem of trying to order leather for older/obsolete handguns (not easy to order modern holsters for something like a Smith 1917 revolver).

 

[AlHunt]

They're all great looking holsters. Have you wet molded? The black one looks like maybe a little. Wet molding with some boning or vacuum forming would give you a little more definition and maybe retention.

Leatherworker.net is a great resource for ... well, leathercrafters.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Good looking Holsters..........You saved yourself hundreds of $$$$$$.

 

[dobegrant]

Very well done